Date: 5:18:15 PM, February 8th, 2015.
Metal Man (GM): Recap. The Questers went to the bottom of the Vring ruins. There, they found the Vring King, who was cursed, and a Deathguard, who was not cursed. The Deathguard helped explain the situation and after some tense moments, the group set to stealing the main gem in the Vring King's crown. The cursed King tried his best to destroy the Questers, but they used their Book to erase him and his temple from Alsa. Then again, it was going to be blown up anyway, be it by that or something else, so... The Questers had finished getting back to Mushroom Republic, where they rested. They also had the cure and the gem and the everything. Some time has passed; the Deathguard has completed combining the gem with the cure, which specifically now looks like the gem has some sort of energy aura around it. Instead of the evil deathly one, it appears to have a green, healing aura. The others haven't quite gathered around, but everyone's been told he's waiting out front of the villa with the gem. Continuation. The Deathguard stands out there, as meanwhile Xavier casually rolls out of his bed, creating a small earthquake with his weight hitting the ground.
Nonna: "Thank you for your assistance." *She's out of bed early this time.*
Metal Man (GM): Xavier stands up, stretching.
Valron: *Groans softly, taking a moment to stretch out before he pops out as well. Seems he's up early this time as well.* "Mmh... Looks a lot nicer than it did before."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "This sleeping thing is comfortable, if confusing."
Metal Man (GM): He walks out slowly, after Valron.
Nonna: "Ah, good morning you two."
Deathguard: "The cure reverses the powers of the gem. Or perhaps it actually re-instates its original purpose..."
Valron: "So, about 50-50, really."
Gelato: *He's still bouncing outside, all excited and happy.*
KitRedgrave gets up out of whatever chair she fell asleep on, and just goes for the coffee engine.
Deathguard: "The gem can heal a limited amount of people. Are you sure I should heal the traitor? I want to make sure in case there aren't other people I could heal first..."
Nonna looks to the others for confirmation.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "For better or worse, there's no other half dead clones of clones of clones who happen to know how to build a Stargate out of thin air..."
Valron: "We don't know of others that could make particular use of the cure, add to it... well. Xavier brings up that point as well."
Nonna: "We will use it on the one you refer to as a traitor."
Metal Man (GM): The Deathguard goes to walk to the Dauntless, contemplating some things as he walks.
Valron: "In any case. I doubt we'll need to use it much in the future, so we should have a good deal of extra time to... Hm. Actually, would it even be possible to synthesize more of the cure later on, or...?"
Deathguard: "It's the magical energy in the crystal that makes it work, and it's keyed specifically to Mad Men or their projects. It would require more work to make it work on everybody. Only a true master of ancient magic could re-awaken this gem's universal cure ability."
KitRedgrave would only now wander in, coffee in hand.
Valron: "Then that'll be something we'll have to keep in mind for later..." *Nods, before following the Deathguard onto the Dauntless.*
Nonna looks for Asgard, really wishing she could teach him their language already, but that would take a while...
Metal Man (GM): Asgard has recovered. He stands there, ready for orders, if rather limited to what he usually can do. The Deathguard reaches the chamber Garrok is in. He looks at it, then glances about.
Deathguard: "You really went out of your way to keep him alive. A pity that he isn't more useful than he already is..."
Valron: "You don't say. Not like I was really doing anything with my coins, anyways." *Shrugs.*
KitRedgrave: "Hm... wha... ...right. The thing we're supposed to do." *She takes a sip of coffee and follows along.*
Gelato: :D *He goes to sit on Kit's shoulder.*
Nonna: "Fylgja." *Heads off after the Deathguard.*
Metal Man (GM): Asgard follows Nonna. Meanwhile, the Deathguard sets the gem atop the container, and it glows.
Deathguard: "Activate." *Holds hand on gem.*
Metal Man (GM): It glows, and then some green energy goes all over Garrok. Then it fades away. He then takes the gem away.
Deathguard: "There. You may see him now, if you wish, simply tell your cryo-stasis container to open and defrost him."
KitRedgrave would just down the entire rest of her coffee at once, immediately tense and waking up now from paranoia that this is actually happening.
Valron: "Thank you very much." *He then takes a moment to clear his throat* "Container, open and defrost."
Nonna: *Watching carefully and quietly.*
Gelato: o.o *He nuzzles closely to Kit's face, watching silently...*
Metal Man (GM): It opens up. Garrok looks... almost a few years younger, as he slowly comes to. He sits up and flexes a hand.
Garrok: "Hmmmm..." *He scratches his chin.* "So... you managed to do it."
Metal Man (GM): He would then slowly look at the Deathguard, then stare.
Garrick: "...How. How did you get one of those here?"
Valron: "Took a bit of doing, and a near-death experience with the king of the Vring."
Nonna: "Don't mind him."
Valron: "...Oh, that guy? He's the one that helped us with all that. Found him in the same chamber as the king."
Deathguard: "I have overridden any impulses to kill you due to the fact you will get me to Borne. After that point it will be up to Borne."
Garrok: "..." *Sigh* "I guess that's fine... after all, I was just going to die without any means of survival until you... fixed this."
Valron: "Hope you don't mind the extra passengers too badly."
Nonna: "This is Asgard. I convinced him to come with us."
Garrok: "I was going to ask about the robot, too, but I figure... you probably had an explanation for that one too."
KitRedgrave: "We do a lot of off-the-wall things here."
Gelato: .oO(He's a nice robot.)
Garrok: "All right, now... to go and get this done." *He climbs out of the pod.* "Remember, I'll help you get back... then I think I'll stay here." *He swallows.* "Borne is unlikely to consider me as anything other than someone who needs to die... or, at best, probably ignore me."
Nonna: "Need any assistance to walk?"
Garrok: "I used to, but whatever you did fixed that..." *He seems vaguely disconcerted.* "I would love to study that gem, it... doesn't behave like the other ones I'm used to seeing."
Deathguard: "If Borne decides you can, then you get to see it. Otherwise, no."
Garrok: "Hmf." *Walks over towards the Crystal Stars, outside, stopping short, and letting everyone follow him.*
Valron: "Well, then. Guess we'll see what goes on from there." *Follows behind Garrok.*
Gelato: *He's riding on a Mobian head.*
Nonna: *Follows.*
Metal Man (GM): Garrok glances to Valron.
Garrok: "You have any coins, Valron?"
Valron: "Used them up on the cryo-stasis chamber."
Garrok: "Well that's just great..."
Metal Man (GM): The Deathguard chucks a bag at Garrok's feet.
Deathguard: "When they said it was you they were reviving, I went to get coins myself."
Garrok: "...Oh. Right... brutally effective and all."
Deathguard: "Do not worry, I didn't kill anyone to get these."
Garrok: "...Borne really should have used you as yard workers, huh."
Deathguard: "I will tolerate that one joke and no others."
Nonna: "That's an awfully specific denial..."
Valron: "Hey, he just wants to clarify, is all."
Garrok: "Yeah yeah, whatever..." *Takes out the coins and casually throws them on the ground in a ring.*
KitRedgrave: "I am not quite sure I understand what the coins are even for."
Garrok: "You know... I once had this idea... that I'd be the big damn hero who saved the world... maybe replaced Garrick and undid what he did... ...I just build portals for people to talk to my former creator." *Sighs and holds out his hand, making weird star sign glyphs and alien language runes into the air* "This is... magitek. If you haven't seen this before... well you'll see it now."
KitRedgrave: "Magitek... with coins. Huh."
Valron: "Yeah. This is generally how it works."
KitRedgrave: "Fascinating, I'll have to ask you all about it..."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Most Magitek uses coins. The only reason the others didn't use it was due to the coins already having been used."
KitRedgrave: "Why coins? What's so special about them? Some sort of material in them?"
Garrok: "Oh, you want to know? ...Maybe if you have something to share with me, since just Magitek doesn't cut it anywhere anymore."
Nonna: "How many bank managers are Magitek users, I wonder."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "It's a sacrifice of some sort..." *Whispers* "I think the Solarians were craaaaazy..."
Valron: "Probably only Solarian ones, as far as I could guess."
KitRedgrave: "Very strange..." *She writes down a note to herself to look into this later when we don't have a plot point riding on it.*
Nonna: "...So anyway."
Garrok: "Oh Solarian powers above, power of the sun, make this gate so the Questers can get out of here, and I don't have to wait any longer to rest after just being healed..."
Metal Man (GM): He would put his hands in the air and make fists. Weird magic would consolidate the coins into a Stargate shaped device made out of shiny steel. It's normal sized. He'd set it up on the plaza and then lock it into place.
KitRedgrave: "Neaaat."
Garrok: "That should cover it. It can only go back to wherever you came back from originally, but I'm pretty certain that's all you needed. You'll need a device to try to make it go anywhere else..." *Sigh* "Maybe I can find out what to do about those GUN people who tried to kill me now..."
Deathguard: "I will be returning to Borne with that portal. You are free to do as you choose."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "What do you guys think?"
Nonna: "Garrok, can you tell us the names of the GUN people who tried to kill you?"
KitRedgrave: "I don't think I've ever seen a spell of that complexity before! Amazing..."
Garrok: "Magitek is a Solarian invention that my original person I was cloned off of knew because... ...does anyone know why?"
Valron: "I'd say it'd be a good idea to check back on the others and see how things are going down on their end. And see if there's any particular disparity between time here and there, in any case."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "He learned it in an ancient fake Solarian ruin on Nintendus during the fake era The Void made up."
Garrok: "...Nevermind, I was better off not knowing."
Valron: "That's generally how that sort of thing goes, yeah."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "It's real because it came from my memories, and apparently either I or Illian knew it... well, both me and Illian were the same person then, you know, so that was probably why, especially since we also merged with The Void... To go back to the Wing Fortress, mostly. We need to check what's up there and... there's more work to do outside of here. Oh, and to ask Borne questions."
Nonna: "We have a lot of things to report."
KitRedgrave: "There's more to do inside here too... hopefully this is a two-way thing."
Garrok: "Yes, it is. Although you can also visit Tails with it... at least the spell told me to tell you that."
KitRedgrave: "The spell. Told you."
Valron: "Okay, good to see we've got that sorted out, then."
Nonna: "No names, huh..."
KitRedgrave: "That... just brings up an entire page of implications."
Garrok: "Not many Magitek users know how to do it like me. Not even Garrick. Borne... tried to make me 'better.' Apparently since I haven't lost my mind and I can do that, that probably counts as 'better.'"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "I should ask Illian if he can make Magitek talk to him."
Nonna: "Shall we go, then?"
Valron: "Ah yes, I'm sure he'd appreciate time being taken out of his day to be asked that. ...As amusing as it'd be. But, yes. We should head back."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Let's go, we can come back, then."
Metal Man (GM): Garrok shows a button on the gate, pushing it, and thus turning it on. It makes a 'sploosh' noise, revealing a portal back.
Valron: *And through the portal he goes.*
Gelato: *D* *He wiggles, gets ready to jump... and promptly trips, falling into it face-first.*
Xavier Ridgecrest walks backwards into the portal.
KitRedgrave picks up Gelato and heads along into the portal.
Metal Man (GM): XRCS Wing Fortress. Everyone appears in the Bridge. It's pretty quiet, mostly.
Nonna: *Went through with Asgard.*
Metal Man (GM): Borne would wander in and see everyone showing up out of the greenish stargate that was made before.
Commander Borne: "I see you returned in one piece. Find anything interesting?"
KitRedgrave: "Only everything."
Valron: "Let's see... Where do I start...?" *Cue the magic of FAST FORWARDING and relaying to Borne their misadventures in Alsa. And the current state of it from what he has gleaned.*
Commander Borne: "...I see."
Metal Man (GM): Borne's reaction to the explanation is a mix of interest and then shock, followed by at one point him looking like he wants to strangle somebody.
Nonna draws a rune in the air, the same one which improved her sight earlier. She was one to fidget sometimes and this just made it more awesome.
Valron: "Yeah... It's been a pretty thrilling past couple of days, all things considered."
Metal Man (GM): The Deathguard walks through the portal as well, and salutes him, then taking a knee.
Commander Borne: "Though I am tempted to just walk in and execute the people making a mockery of GUN with how they're running it... we shall be more subtle than that. It was my plan for them to learn how to run themselves, anyway... The fact that you brought back a Deathguard is... very good as well." *He would thread his fingers.* "Garrick's damage to Alsa is becoming all the more distant."
Valron: "Yeah. He seems to be the only Deathguard left, in any case."
Commander Borne: "I know. He wasn't even supposed to be alive. Garrick's deal was I would survive if there were no Deathguards in existence."
Valron: "Funny how that works out, I guess."
Commander Borne: "That he survived in spite of all of this... ...clearly it is a sign that things can be remedied."
Valron: "We also picked up one of the robots from the ruins, but... It doesn't seem like he's popped in yet."
Commander Borne: "Though it does remind me... if we find Garrick... me and the Deathguard will attack him without mercy, probably followed by the remnants of my elite guard. If you wish to join in, that is fine, but after what he did... to our planet, and our people..."
Metal Man (GM): Asgard walks in, having been a bit slow to materialize. Borne looks at the robot and doesn't seem to really understand what it is. He continues talking.
Nonna: "Ah, there you are."
KitRedgrave: "We discussed this. If Garrick won't be swayed or banished, it will be the end of him."
Valron: "...Ah, there's Asgard. Right, then." *He nods to the robot* "It's one of the guard robots from the Vring temple we got the cure from. Regardless, ah... Hm."
Commander Borne: "...Right. It just... makes me so mad to see what damage was done to Alsa."
Valron: "It's... horribly disconcerting, yes."
Commander Borne: "Even if he does change his mind, I will have to see that it's more than just a ruse to trick us."
Valron: "And what of the last remaining clone?"
KitRedgrave: "You and me both. That was my life, here in history."
Commander Borne: "Garrok..." *He seems conflicted.* "Garrok betrayed me for no reason. But... it was such a mess... how could he even know what I was doing? I played dead half the time, played a shadow game the other half... hid in the X-zone another third..."
Valron: "Then there's the part where you hid in me... Really, it was just a trainwreck the whole way down."
Commander Borne: "Yes... I don't think he could have honestly done my orders even if he tried." *He would hold his chest a bit.* "To be honest, it's still that damned Smash Energy that keeps me alive, I would... probably die if I stayed on Alsa too long now."
Metal Man (GM): The Deathguard holds out the gem.
Deathguard: "This is the cure you were researching on the facility. I used Garrok as a test subject to ensure it would not kill you."
Commander Borne: "I see..."
Nonna: "Asgard, þessi es Borne."
Commander Borne: "Indeed, were I my old self, this is where I would grab it and leap through the portal, explaining how I had outwitted everyone... but the old me was stupid. We shall continue what we are doing then, together... because I keep missing things. ...All the same, I don't plan on dying if someone uses an anti Smash Energy beam on us."
Valron: "...That would be the best course of action, yes."
Metal Man (GM): He snatches the gem and uses it on himself, glowing green for a moment, then gives it back.
Gelato: "What do we do now?" *He paces in place, obviously antsy for a new task to help someone...*
Metal Man (GM): Asgard looks and nods at Borne.
Commander Borne: "I guess I will have some in time, Gelato, once I think on what would work with you. You have made my weekly regimen of injection with nanites redundant with this gem, so..."
Valron: "We also managed to pick up a Dauntless-class ship, but that's back on Alsa. It's also a bit of a mess at the moment, though."
Commander Borne: "...Ah... right... there's a bit of a problem out here. The Time Cops have discovered we're here. I was holding them off by hacking their comms and reporting false sightings everywhere. But I don't think it'll last much longer."
KitRedgrave: "Well... crap."
Valron: "Well, that's... great. Best we head out for greener pastures, then."
Nonna: "Time Cops, huh. Anyone important?"
KitRedgrave: *Sigh* "Guess we have to attend to our business here later."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Never expected to stay on Opus long. There's better places to go... especially since Opus probably won't be the best place to stay anyway."
Commander Borne: "Omnus has gotten wind of what happened. He has been sending agents to the planet itself searching for us. The lesser ones who got too close to here, I just killed, but there's worse ones now."
Valron: "Not exactly surprised. Especially considering there was a Time Cop who was at that place we helped sabotage a while back..."
Commander Borne: "One of the worse ones even got close to here... ...then Illian walked outside and some sort of explosion occurred and they no longer existed."
Valron: "Agreed."
KitRedgrave: "Where will we go?"
Valron: "There's no reason to linger here, anyways. We came here for repairs to our ship, and that's what we've gotten."
Nonna: "Is Illian still on board?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "I'm a bit out of date on locations, but there's this planet I forgot the name to that's near Erastia..."
Commander Borne: "Yes. He went back aboard, complaining about 'shifting Time Cop encryption protocols.' He had some sort of Magitek computer he used to destroy their machines, it was a tech based Time Cop. Reminded me a little of the Solarian Machine."
Metal Man (GM): Illian walks in, casually holding some weird circuit board device on his arm.
Valron: "...Oh, hey."
Illian MacGregor: "Omnus is after us. Additionally sightings of Autumnus and Arbiter have shown up. They appear to be on a different side though. I saw them shooting at eachother out there. A panic has occurred with the Time Cops. The time we had was due to Autumnus and the Arbiter invading..."
Valron: "Hm. Interesting. I was wondering where those two ended up. The Arbiter, in particular."
Illian MacGregor: "Worse yet, the one known as Mad Molly has been heard on distant comms, sending orders to others who aided Autumnus and Arbiter."
Commander Borne: "...I thought she was dead."
Valron: "...Oh. Well, that's. Going to be fun, I see."
Nonna: "...Autumnus?' Arbiter? Mad Molly? I'll ask later. Let's strap ourselves in and brave for impact.'"
Illian MacGregor: "So did I, but her voice was there on the ultra long range comms, and she was sending in forces. I had a plan to leave, so... here's the plan... I'm going to tell both Mad Molly and Omnus we're here as we're leaving."
Commander Borne: "Isn't that a very bad idea?"
Illian MacGregor: "They have ships all over the planet's atmosphere."
Commander Borne: "I was thinking we'd just shoot our way out..."
Illian MacGregor: "No offense, Borne, but you've never fought a space battle like this before. If the ships both are fighting over us, we can get through the fumbling."
Valron: "I rather like that idea."
Nonna: "...Probably has the most realistic chance of success, really."
Valron: "Much wiser to have them smacking into each-other to get at us while blowing through anything we need to blow through."
Illian MacGregor: "It'll only work the once. They'll probably get wise to it, but only after the mockery of an attempt to catch us this is going to cause. The next planet better have some new equipment for this damned old wreck, Xavier. Your guns are 50 years out of date."
Valron: "...If we just don't have to Baton Pass our way through them before we're done. I'm surprised it's only 50 years."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "I'll find a way... ...we can visit Ivan after we secure our next landing spot!"
Nonna: "Plan B will be shooting first and asking questions later."
Valron: "Good. He has the Fy'aar and I need to get that secured."
KitRedgrave: "If it even works like that again... Baton Passing kind of got us here."
Illian MacGregor: "It is true, this ship is extremely old... but Xavier had a tendency to steal things from the future."
Valron: "Hopefully, he'll have finished the modifications to it I requested by now."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Lemme check." *Looks at dex* "He did."
Valron: "Perfect."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Okay, everyone... get ready, we're gonna fly out of here, top speed. If what Illian said works, we won't be shooting, we'll just run fast with our Time Cop Engine. I hope Abe did it right. Otherwise if we have any problems, I'm crashing us into his shop so he doesn't survive for his treachery."
Valron: "I already have a feeling I'm going to be in need of looking for upgrades and whatn-... Right. That may be for the best."
Illian MacGregor: "That won't be necessary, Xavier. I double checked his repairs. Spartan, but... they work. You were gone for not so long though... I wonder why..."
Commander Borne: "Time moves faster on Alsa."
Valron: "...Hm. Should we cast Agility on the ship beforehand? Might help us out."
Illian MacGregor: "...That's right, only my future self was on Alsa enough to figure that out."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Go ahead, anyone have any useful spells, just cast it here." *Points to the Magic Amplifier thingy.*
Valron: "Had a feeling there was a bit temporal disparity between here and there, but. That clinches it."
KitRedgrave: "Good idea, let me do that." *She casts Agility with the book through the amplifier.*
Valron: "...I was going to cast Charge first, so Agility could be even more effective, but. That'll do."
KitRedgrave: "Oh, right..."
Nonna: "Asgard, varðI aðferð!"
Gelato: *Three Charged Shields!*
KitRedgrave: "Forgot you had that."
Valron: "Don't worry about it."
Metal Man (GM): Asgard uses his shield amplifier on the magic amplifier, causing the ship to gain a pretty shiny shield on top of all the other shields.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Alright, let's... get out of here."
Metal Man (GM): Xavier sits in his chair and starts flipping a billion metal switches.
Valron: *He casts Charge anyways* "In case Agility runs out beforehand, we can just have a charged Agility ready for if it does."
Nonna sits in a seat, puts on seatbelt.
Metal Man (GM): He steps on a pedal, then he turns two keys. Then he takes off his helmet and licks a contact he for some reason just had sitting there.
KitRedgrave: "Right then."
Valron: *And then he gets seated.*
Gelato: "..." *He hops up onto a chair and clings to it, like gum.*
KitRedgrave would find a seat and prepare for launch.
Metal Man (GM): Borne sits at the tech chair, dialing in some code. The ship shudders and violently rips out of the snow around it, floating into the air. The sky is completely flooded with ships flying about, many of them small, but a few big ones in the distance. The comms open up as Illian chats into them.
Illian MacGregor: "Attention Time Cops: We are right here. Attention Mad Molly. We are right here."
Metal Man (GM): The ships all turn towards the Wing Fortress at once.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "I'm still not sure--"
Metal Man (GM): The ships begin firing at eachother and at the Wing Fortress simultaneously. The ship rocks violently as a bunch of shots hit the super-shields.
Nonna: "Too late now, Xavier!"
Commander Borne: "The additional shields are taking damage, but we haven't even been dinged on the Charles Ultra Shield."
Metal Man (GM): The comms light up, with Omnus appearing on them again.
Omnus: *C* "You are a real pain, you know. You helped depose Mad Molly, only to help her chase you? At least have some sense and try to stay hidden. I can't believe you somehow survived the Illian trap and then turned him against us... you will need to be killed extra painfully for this..."
Valron: *C* "Only if you learn to have the sense to not try and ruin a universe for the sake of a petty squabble."
Omnus: *C* "That universe could have been easily rebuilt... we have destroyed entire worlds for less."
Commander Borne: *C* "We killed Judge Dredd. We'll probably kill Mad Molly. What chance do you really think you have?"
Valron: *C* "That doesn't make it any less disgusting."
KitRedgrave: *C* "Just because you can doesn't mean you SHOULD."
Omnus: *C* "You can't possibly think--"
Metal Man (GM): The comms is interrupted rather rudely, jammed out of existence.
Nonna: *C* "How despicable. Anyone playing God as you have will only result in misery."
Metal Man (GM): You notice the Mad Molly ships thickening in number quite extremely.
Valron: "...Oh. Okay. ...Ah. I think I understand why the jamming happened, now."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "This is a bit odd... weren't they equal in numbers?"
Valron: "Something went straight to pot here, is the idea."
KitRedgrave: "Maybe they're doing some sort of time folding. Pulling their numbers from the future...?"
Metal Man (GM): The ship keeps flying out, as Omnus' ships are violently destroyed.
Valron: "I think we're in the middle of doing that..."
Metal Man (GM): The ships attacking you now look a lot like... GUN ships.
Valron: "Well! Can't say I'm particularly liking where this is going."
Nonna: "What the..."
Metal Man (GM): The ships have the Time Cop logo, and seem to be firing ultra-advanced versions of weapons that were once used on Alsa: Powerful super-lightning beams, giant mass drivers on par with MAC cannons... The Omnus ships are all streamlined and fancy, and have powerful lasers, but they are getting SHREDDED.
Valron: "...They have their own version of the lightning beams... That's... that's not good at all."
KitRedgrave: "...Well."
Metal Man (GM): The ships are even just violently ramming into them and self destructing just to clear them away. Then some of them start slamming into the shields and rocking the Wing Fortress.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "...They really want us dead, don't they."
Illian MacGregor: "There weren't supposed to be that many!"
Valron: "Those things will pretty much... well, you see how they're destroying Omnus' fleet. I'm not surprised they're this effective, especially considering the original lightning guns were meant to be used to destroy a nanite-based entity..."
Illian MacGregor: "They came out of nowhere!"
Nonna: "GO!"
KitRedgrave: "I'm gonna go ahead and make us go faster. Maybe then we'll be able to get out of this danmaku of hell."
Metal Man (GM): The ship's nearly out of the atmosphere, but more red blinkenlights turn on as several more ships slam into the shields, and a few fires appear on the control panels.
KitRedgrave would go and cast Agility again on top of the Charge.
Valron: "But yes, let's just... get right on out of here." *And then he casts Agility, presuming his Charge on the ship is still up.*
Metal Man (GM): The ship speeds up as fast as it can go. But up ahead is apparently something a bit different... You see an Omnus capital ship, that's been well positioned to fire its guns at you. A giant silver figure appears behind it, however.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "...What's even going on over there?"
Valron: "Um.."
Metal Man (GM): The ship is carpet bombed by gigantic explosions, then some sort of giant wave of kinetic force rips it in two. A powerful metallic voice booms through the air with magical projection. It's no comms--it's just that loud.
The Arbiter: "THE QUESTERS ARE OURS."
Valron: "...Oh.. ...Hello, Arbiter. I don't remember you being this massive."
Illian MacGregor: "...That's the Arbiter... ...I guess he wasn't too happy that we completely ruined whatever he was doing countless times."
The Arbiter: "You destroyed our organization's control over this outside world, but you did not destroy my combat capabilities, nor the powers of Autumnus. You may have Alsa, but you may not have this universe. You must turn back or be destroyed."
Valron: "Okay, but that just leaves an entirely different, moon-sized elephant in the room. Where's Autumnus?"
The Arbiter: "His presence is not required here. I am powerful enough to defeat you by myself."
Valron: "Fair."
Nonna: "Great, another one with a God complex."
The Arbiter: "Did you not see the capital ship get destroyed?"
Valron: "...No, really. That's fair. He's not joking when he says that. I've seen his powers in action before this."
The Arbiter: "It may not violate the laws of physics like yours... but you cannot destroy me either. And by the time you have run out of attacks, reinforcements can destroy you. While we will be able to reverse what you did to us--Omnus will simply be slaughtered once we have dealt with you."
Valron: "...Can't say I feel any sort of sympathy for Omnus."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Could you kill Omnus first and threaten us later? I mean, I'll buy you a donut!"
Valron: "If anything, that's just one less person I need to get rid of."
The Arbiter: "You will not fool me this time, microscopic metal figurine!"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "...So... Borne... the ARD cannon ready to take this person out?"
Commander Borne: "Unless you somehow brought another one from the past, no."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "...What about you, Illian?"
Valron: "...I thought that thing wasn't hooked up to anything anyways."
Illian MacGregor: "You destroyed my superpowers... remember? Besides, I would have killed you moments after killing him."
Valron: "...And I have a feeling Baton Toss is not going to save us now."
KitRedgrave: "Who said anything about taking him out now? We're leaving, aren't we?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "We have to get around him somehow." *Moves the ship to try and fly around him.*
Nonna: *Thinking to herself. Damn, this is worse than I thought. Just as powerless against the enemy as before... why does it have to be this way?*
The Arbiter: "You cannot run!" *Warps into the way really fast, causing a loud CRASH.*
Valron: "...Is that even going to work on... well, him?"
Commander Borne: "He also knows Alsan magic."
Valron: "...Outlook - Really hazy.."
Commander Borne: "We would just both be casting it on eachother."
The Arbiter: "I would sit here, giving you the opportunity to plan, but I did that twice, and lost both times. NO MORE PLANNING!"
Valron: "And I doubt we could temporarily seal his up, so... Hm."
Metal Man (GM): He fires a giant death ray at the shields and begins immediately trying to pancake the Wing Fortress like he did the other ship.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Gah! This isn't good! The Charles Shields aren't as invincible this far out from Nintendus!"
KitRedgrave rapidly tries to cast Charge and then Disable at the Arbiter through the amplifier. Maybe?
Metal Man (GM): Kit goes to do that, but Illian interrupts her.
Illian MacGregor: "That's a good idea, but let's take it even further."
Valron: "What've you got in mind?"
Illian MacGregor: "We chain all of our attacks into the amplifier and overdrive it to the maximum to the point it violently overheats, but in the process create enough kinetic and electromagnetic energy to knock him aside."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "...Sounds fun, but I think I can just ram him!"
Illian MacGregor: "He can do it back though."
Valron: "I like Illian's idea better, to be perfectly frank."
Commander Borne: "I'd discuss other options, but our shield generator is slowly turning into molten slag."
KitRedgrave: "If it'll work..."
Gelato: *Bounce bounce*
Valron: "Right, well." *Charge -> Swords Dance into the Amplifier, first off.*
Nonna: "No time to debate, it's time to act!"
Valron: "If we're going to maximize damage, then have that."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Of course." *He takes out his Microphone and plugs it into the amplifier* "I'm going to combine my tech-jamming ability with your attacks so it makes him malfunction!"
Nonna: "What is it, Gelato?" *Gets out her terminal thing.*
Valron: *And then out come a pairof Brick Blasters and goes to get them amplifier-ready. Followed by charging. Oh my god, attack charging.*
Metal Man (GM): Borne and the Deathguard both take out their Phase Pistols.
Illian MacGregor: "Maximum attack, hmmm..."
Gelato: X3 *He focuses his Gobbu-gained energy and lets it loose into the amp!*
Metal Man (GM): Illian takes out his giant elephant shotgun.
Valron: "Yeah. That'll work perfectly."
Illian MacGregor: "They had a lot of mass drivers. This ought to drive a lot of mass into that aggravation."
Metal Man (GM): The shields continue virtually screaming, as meanwhile Asgard stands by.
Nonna: *Her weird sword thing is brandished and ready to use her most powerful nuke. She thought to use some kind of rune to enchance her attack, but didn't know which one to use yet.*
Valron: "Nonna! Have Asgard help out! He has the light lasers still, right?"
Nonna orders Asgard to use his offensive mode now.
The Arbiter: "This shield... it is illogically strong... ...you think you can match MY power? You are the ones with the God complex!"
Valron: "You're a bit off, there!"
Metal Man (GM): The Arbiter increases his attack, as the shield is now basically flickering and starting to explode, the entire ship shaking violently and lights flashing.
The Arbiter: "Look around you! In moments you will be NOTHING!"
Valron: "Alright, is everyone ready?"
The Arbiter: "...Damn your realm's overly powered force field generators... I must find who created this ship's force field and kill them next!"
Editor's Note: Alas, I wish Xavier had replied "Hahahaha! He (the creator of the ship's force field) is already dead!" just to throw The Arbiter off base.
Nonna: "Anyone who cannot understand the plight of the weak cannot be called powerful!"
Commander Borne: "We should attack now. The shields have about fallen apart."
Illian MacGregor: "Good. Time to shut this metal mousetrap up long enough to get out of here."
Valron: "Right. I'm good to go."
KitRedgrave would choose a spell carefully, and then spend an awful lot of energy casting Charge, then Combo Spelling Flash and Freeze on the signal.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "All aboard!" *Screams 'WUARGH' into the microphone.*
Gelato: *GOBBU POWER UNLEASHED!*
Metal Man (GM): Borne and the Deathguard fire synchronized beams into the amplifier.
Valron: *Cue some truly massive streams of murderous green fire, courtesy of a Max Charge Caustic Flare.*
Commander Borne: "That's it... ...I have it."
KitRedgrave shoots a great burst of pure munchkinry!
Metal Man (GM): Borne flips some switches. The shield turns off. ... ...And the rest of its power is converted into a pure beam of energy alongside all the other attacks you do.
Nonna: *Diabolic Emission first, which powers her up even more for her strongest attack, Hræsvelgr!*
Metal Man (GM): The Arbiter's beam gets pushed back by a massive white beam of energy that grows larger than his and even begins to consume it, as the various energy signatures of all the attacks crisscross it in a gigantic cloud, as Illian fires his shotgun shell, causing a gigantic shotgun shell to show up out there, surrounded by dark energy and then monstrous music notes and the energy from Gelato's attack as well. The Arbiter holds up his arms to try to overpower the attacks with explosions... but he's failing to keep up. Asgard takes this time to fire a massive energy beam of light into the amplifier, as the green energy from Valron also comes out of it. The Arbiter holds up both arms, getting increasingly strained, his raged groan being heard.
The Arbiter: "Nnnnnnn... ...nnnnnnn... ...NNNNNGHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR."
Metal Man (GM): He moves forward, letting the attacks damage him, but still trying to force his way through it, even as his beam is being pushed all the way back to him. Borne then looks sadistically at Gelato for some reason.
Commander Borne: "...NOW you use Baton toss."
Gelato: *A toss of the baton.*
Metal Man (GM): The ship and the Arbiter change places, still facing the same way they did before. The beams are flipped around and in the process get send off center, making them all create a megasplosion. The Wing Fortress is catapaulted away from the planet at insane speeds by the explosion behind it. Meanwhile, the Arbiter is unexpectedly (to him) launched violently at Opus' surface.
The Arbiter: "NNNNNNNNNBATON TO--" *he's cut short by colliding into the planet hard enough to make a gigantic explosion and crater on its surface.*
Nonna: "You're a God, right? I'm sure you can deal with it."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "...Did we hit the area we landed in?"
KitRedgrave: "...Did we just kill a whole planet to escape."
Valron: "He's... Going to be dealing with it for a while, I'm sure."
Illian MacGregor: "...No, the planet isn't dead. He just crashed into a frigid wasteland. ...There might have been a few people there, but I guess we can't avoid that. Somebody was going to die with all those lasers."
Commander Borne: "I'm sorry for their loss, but we have to concentrate on leaving or else we will join them."
Editor's Note: Geez, cold as always, Borne.
Nonna: "With luck, he crashed into the Time Cop building."
Metal Man (GM): He taps on the screen and the still chasing Mad Molly ships.
Valron: "Yeah... At least it wasn't any massive losses."
KitRedgrave: "At those speeds I'm surprised there's a planet left."
Valron: "...Also, at this point. Can I just say that Baton Toss seems to be about as useful as duct tape, because... wow."
Illian MacGregor: "He was trying at maximum speed to slow down so he could chase us."
KitRedgrave: "Ah, okay."
Illian MacGregor: "There would be no planet had he chosen to hit it at the speeds he was initially going."
Valron: "We're not out of the woods yet, but we've definitely gotten through the worst of it."
Illian MacGregor: "...By the way, he does appear to be extracting himself out of the planet to chase us... ...but he's very far away now. In fact Opus just left sensor range."
Nonna: *Thinking to herself again. That was too close. Can't always rely on a trick like that to get us out of trouble... must get stronger.*
Metal Man (GM): The fastest Mad Molly ship beams a simple message to you. It's of Autumnus.
Valron: "...Ah, well, that answers that last little nagging question..."
Autumnus: "Ah... good job... all that means is I'll get to fight you next time, because I don't waste my time blowharding like he did. Enjoy your life... while you still can." *Click.*
Metal Man (GM): Xavier is busy re-catching his breath from all that screaming.
Valron: "...I remember him being pretty theatrical the last time I had to fight him."
Nonna: "Is he an all-powerful megalomaniacal lunatic like the others?"
KitRedgrave: "I'm gonna guess 'yes'."
Valron: "He can also back it up by having the density of a small moon."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "All of those Time Cops are like that, unfortunately. They were the ones who chased me so badly I had to hide in Alsa and Nintendus just to live."
Valron: "I turned one of his strongest attacks against him, and... Ah. He survived. I mean, he was half-skeletonized by it, but. He survived."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "They also created The Void and were the ones who nearly blew up Nintendus a million times."
Valron: "Of course, you can't really tell that anymore as that was a while back, so."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "The sooner we find a WMD to annihilate them with, the better, because we've never managed to kill most of them for long. They... they are kinda like us, only... ...less of them, and more insane, and much more powerful. Except Ael, who was kinda like us, which is why he died because he couldn't comprehend when the Questers got smart."
Valron: "And with a lot more fodder backing them up."
Nonna: "And negotiation is out of the picture."
Valron: "Definitely."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "They don't know how to negotiate."
Commander Borne: "I tried negotiation once. They responded by sending an entire war fleet to conquer Alsa. This engine is from the flagship of that fleet." *Points to the Time Engine.*
Nonna: "What is their goal?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Originally, it was to destroy Nintendus and Alsa. Now it's basically to kill us, because we defeated them by rewriting Time."
KitRedgrave: "Or would have defeated them in the future past perfect. ...It's confusing, but yeah. That's what happened."
Valron: "Yeah. We're kinda cramping on their whole... 'dominion over Time itself' thing."
Commander Borne: "Mad Molly was the first one of these Time Cops. She created them after fleeing Alsa. But the Questers here made it so that never happened. But they're time travelers so they dodged being annihilated by time changing."
Nonna: "So many people suffering in the universe... and they have all that power, all those resources... and they spend it all on petty schoolyard revenge."
Valron: "That's... their norm."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Pretty much. They destroyed my home dimension just because my people had developed a Time Device."
KitRedgrave: "Why do you think we're spitting in their face so much?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "They refused to share that power with anybody."
Nonna: "I think if there is a real God out there, he hates us more than we think."
Illian MacGregor: "I was one of the first to run afoul of them. In another dimension, they attacked my homeworld. I had to kill the ones from my world using an unspeakable weapon of mass destruction: The Solarian Machine. I... ...everyone I knew had died... but so did those bastards. I came to this world to try and create a machine that would destroy them. THAT was why I got the Book... I was going to weaponize the planet of Alsa into a giant weapon that I could use against them."
Valron: "And then it kinda spiraled out of control from there, huh..."
Illian MacGregor: "The power was too much for me to comprehend. I went insane. Sad to say, but that's also why they're insane."
Nonna: "I doubt it would have worked, anyway."
Illian MacGregor: "I believe each of them may have been normal once..."
Commander Borne: "I have had the most experience in defeating them. And I know what will stop these Time Cops."
Valron: "So, we're powerful, but not along the lines of madness-inducingly powerful. Good to know."
KitRedgrave: "Not yet, anyway."
Commander Borne: "We must make a new Anti Reality Device. It was made by reversing the Arbiter's reality creation device. They use their devices to create entire realities just to play with them. But it also makes said realities dangerously weak to the power of a device that can reverse that weave of energy."
Valron: "Do you still have that copy of his hard drive or has that been lost to the ages?"
Nonna: "They aren't unique. That evil lies in the heart of every being, every culture, every group. These ones just happen to be the biggest bullies in the schoolyard this year. We could take them out, but another group will take their place."
Commander Borne: "If we used it on the Arbiter, we could cause a large chunk of him to simultaneously explode. I still have the copy... as does Tails."
Valron: "As I expected."
Commander Borne: "You know, Nonna, that is part of the problem."
KitRedgrave: "We could try to take their place, but we might wind up doing the same."
Commander Borne: "Omnus is the one that plans to replace them."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Yeah, Omnus was hoping that us rewriting history had killed them all off."
Valron: "Fat lot of good that did him."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "I think he got a bit too overoptimistic and left himself open to that massacre we saw."
Valron: "Especially considering both Autumnus and The Arbiter survived in the end, regardless."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Though he's obviously still out there, I saw some other ships of his..."
Commander Borne: "Panzer defeated Autumnus, once. If only we could find her..."
Valron: "He's probably in about the same condition as we are. Can't imagine he much likes that."
Metal Man (GM): Xavier shrugs, as the ship flies towards the next destination.
Valron: "Mind you, by 'same condition' I mean 'on the run'."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "We don't have a lot of choices, but the planet of Celia should be fine. It's... a lot less messy than the one we left. People there are peaceful... and suspicious... ...and we'll probably have to argue a while before we can even land."
KitRedgrave: "So, they're sane."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Yes. Also, they are the gatekeepers to the ruins of my homeworld, Erastia."
Nonna: *Gives an order to Asgard, and takes off her seatbelt to go find a place to rest, looking pretty down.* "Let me know when we arrive."
KitRedgrave: "Awful shame we're leading the time cops right to their door."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "I will. It'll take a while. We're going slow..."
Valron: "So long as we can convince them, I don't mind too much arguing."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "The data I'm reading on the universe-net says they had a deal with them that made them stay away. It's more the Mad Molly Time Cops who are liable to be a problem."
Valron: "Yeah, I figured."
KitRedgrave: "With our track record so far, we can take one of them. Maybe."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Since I've been reading, when the Arbiter and Mad Molly resurfaced, they conquered the area closest to Alsa and Nintendus."
Valron: "And considering that next time they're bringing Autumnus into the fray instead, I'm... not looking forward to that."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Omnus is busy hiding in his safe place further in the center of the universe. The scariest part is a third faction holds the other edge of the universe, and I've got no clue who they are. The Dweezil once were there, but... Borne kinda killed... all of them..."
Commander Borne: "They attacked Alsa first!"
Nonna finds her quarters and just lays on the bed with a sigh, deep in thought.
Valron: "I was hoping to use them, but... Fat lot of good they were, I guess. In any case, our main priority is to get ourselves situated on Celia, first off."
Deathguard: "Now that the destruction has ended, I humbly request you remove the modifications in me, Borne. It is past time--otherwise, someone can kill me with one radio signal."
Valron: "At least... as best as we can. If possible, maybe we could scour Erastia's remnants for anything useful?"
Commander Borne: "Ah, yes... I will do that. You are more loyal than any other Deathguard... you disobeyed my order to die in order to protect me, and somehow you survived anyway..."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Yes. Erastia is a dead planet, but enough remains we can probably equip ourselves more... properly. The echo of it in Nintendus was but a shadow of the real thing."
KitRedgrave: "Hopefully we get some time to regroup, too. I have some interesting ideas that I haven't been able to try."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "This part of space has been rendered empty, thankfully... ...Because of..."
Metal Man (GM): Xavier points at all the destroyed Omnus ships.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "...Those guys we just blasted through killed all the Omnus ships here, and then made a beeline for Opus, apparently."
Valron: "Handy. I'm sure we'll see them regroup and head here later, though. I'd be surprised if they didn't take the opportunity."
Metal Man (GM): And on that note, I'll move it into free roam mode/downtime, because the shows I'm watching are coming up and I need to prepare for the visit to Celia, EXP, Xavier needs stats, Nonna needs runes, and Gelato needs that data he copied from the Arbiter. For now I'll just note that Gelato copied the Arbiter's 'Make it Rain Explosions' move and give stats when I start going to work on all this backlog. Session Complete.